Fleurieu Art Prize calls for entries

Julie Harris, Pagodas at Newnes

Nigel Hurst, Director and Chief Executive of London’s Saatchi Gallery, will head up the judging panel alongside artist Michael Zavros and Erica Green, Director of the Samstag Museum of Art.

Karen Paris, General Manager of the Fleurieu Art Prize, is encouraging artists to consider the theme of ‘landscape’ in broad terms.

“Artists can enter a work of any substance applied to any surface as long as it has a relationship to ‘landscape’ in the mind of its creator,” Paris says.

“While we embrace and honour traditional concepts and mediums, we also welcome artists that challenge the more traditional arts and bring new concepts, unique interpretations and contemporary media to the prize.

“Some of our finalists in 2011 really surprised our audiences and we expect to see a great selection of contemporary works again this year, especially from artists keen to attract the eye of Nigel Hurst.”

Hurst will visit Adelaide and South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula region to judge the prize on the opening weekend of the month-long, biennial event, beginning on October 26.

“South Australia is clearly embracing contemporary art and I’m delighted to help judge such a unique and important prize,” Hurst says.

The single category award is the world’s richest landscape painting prize and is supported by a People’s Choice award.

Shortlisted works will be on display until November 25 in various galleries, cellar doors and exhibition spaces throughout McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Past winners of the Fleurieu Art Prize include Robert Hannaford (1998), Elisabeth Cummings (2000), Joe Furlonger (2002), Ken Whisson (2006), Tim Burns (2008) and Julie Harris (2011).

The finalist exhibitions will be supported by a Festival Community Program of exhibitions, events and activities throughout McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu region, metropolitan Adelaide and broader South Australia.

Artists can enter via the online process at www.artprize.com.au.

2013 Program of Activities 

Fri 26 July Entries close

Thurs 29 August Shortlist announced

Thurs 24 October Media preview of exhibition

Fri 25 October Collectors preview and dinner

Sat 26 October Winner announcement at cocktail party (public opening; tickets on sale in mid 2013)

Sun 27 October Free afternoon festival celebration with buses to all exhibition venues

Mon 25 November Festival closes

The Fleurieu Art Prize thanks and acknowledges its generous donors, sponsors and suppliers including: platinum donor The James and Diana Ramsay foundation; Flinders University; Wirra Wirra vineyards; Chapel Hill Winery; Penny’s Hill Winery; d’Arenberg Winery; Willunga Basin Water Company; BDO; Newstyle Printing; government partners Events SA, City of Onkaparinga and Alexandrina Council; and industry partner Helpmann Academy.